Search - Snow Patrol :: Trip

Trip worth taking

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 04/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Grandaddy's done it. So have the Flaming Lips. Not to mention, of course, the Super Furry Animals, Nightmares on Wax, Kid Loco, Zero 7, Rae & Christian, Turin Brakes, and countless other bands that aren't as well-known as they deserve to be.



It's not a new thing to have mix CDs by various popular indie bands, which simultaneously pay tribute to musical influences and personal favorites, and give fans some new bands to pursue. But Scottish indierock band Snow Patrol outdoes itself with the double-disc mix "The Trip," which has a staggering number of little-known bands.



Their latest album "Final Straw" often echoes with T.Rex, Coldplay, My Bloody Valentine and Idlewild, but none of those bands are found on this magnificent mix album. There are some indie staples, however, such as the Beastie Boys, TV on the Radio, the Shins, and Rilo Kiley. No problem -- these guys have good taste.



But there are also an abundance of bands that few have heard of: the offbeat lo-fi Cocorosie, the soft folky Iain Archer, the sparkly pop of Mum, the languid indierock of Joy Zipper, the funky Sir Drew, smooth Seelenluft, fuzz'n'blips of Hot Chip, and even some rarities like Feist's sultrily catchy indierock (which is currently only available as an import).



Whatever you think of the Scottish band's actual music -- which I happen to adore -- it's clear that Snow Patrol has excellent musical taste. Not every choice is ideal, I must admit: Secret Machines' drawling "Road Leads Where It's Led" was one of the few songs that failed to tickle my fancy.



In general, however, their musical taste is essentially impeccable. These guys run the musical gamut from electronica to Icelandic pop to hip-hop to gritty indie rock'n'roll. It's marvelously eclectic, and certainly speaks well of what these guys listen to in their cars. Except for perhaps the Shins and TV on the Radio, not a single song is "obvious."



"The Trip" has a threefold effect: It pays tribute to some underrated bands that helped shape Snow Patrol, it introduces the band's fans to those same underrated bands... and it's a marvelous listen. Definitely worth getting."

Worth a shot...

J | Denver | 06/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this album up before a trip, weird?. It's actually great driving music and a nice collection overall. It transitions nicely through some very distinct flows and rythms. I can't say that this is the best album I have ever owned but I think it is a good snapshot of the music scene about six months ago.



A great band on this album that has a fabulous album of their own is TV on the Radio, really a great find.



To end I would say if you are looking for an interesting compilation that is a good listen, look here. If your looking for something that is entertaining and fun to listen to you'll probably get that too. You will not find the revolution here but there are still some good songs!



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